The Strange Allure of Pappy Van Winkle

I gave up after awhile. I simply couldn't take it anymore. The inexplicable lust for this brand escapes me. I at one time was one of those lemmings trying his very best to score a bottle, any bottle, with no success whatsoever. Called in favors. Signed up on waiting lists. Showed up on release day. Nothing. You can only take so much. After a time of education and accepting reality, I no longer wanted to get a bottle. The hype is too ridiculous and whiskey hipsters always have more money and sweetheart connections than I do. I moved on and bought Weller bottles. Happy as a clam. Goodbye Pappy, you’re just not as cool as everyone thinks you are.

Then I got a call.

A certain gentleman working at a liquor store about 50 miles away notified me that the Pappy allocation is coming up and I can reserve some bottles from a waiting list I signed up for 20 months earlier. What did I say? Did I take the high road and say “let the rich dentists have their Pappy, I don’t give a damn?” Nope. I said “get me the 15 and the Rye” and hung up the phone with a stupid grin on my face. Spirit was willing, but the flesh so very weak…

Re: The Strange Allure of Pappy Van Winkle

Originally Posted by SWC

I gave up after awhile. I simply couldn't take it anymore. The inexplicable lust for this brand escapes me. I at one time was one of those lemmings trying his very best to score a bottle, any bottle, with no success whatsoever. Called in favors. Signed up on waiting lists. Showed up on release day. Nothing. You can only take so much. After a time of education and accepting reality, I no longer wanted to get a bottle. The hype is too ridiculous and whiskey hipsters always have more money and sweetheart connections than I do. I moved on and bought Weller bottles. Happy as a clam. Goodbye Pappy, you’re just not as cool as everyone thinks you are.

Then I got a call.

A certain gentleman working at a liquor store about 50 miles away notified me that the Pappy allocation is coming up and I can reserve some bottles from a waiting list I signed up for 20 months earlier. What did I say? Did I take the high road and say “let the rich dentists have their Pappy, I don’t give a damn?” Nope. I said “get me the 15 and the Rye” and hung up the phone with a stupid grin on my face. Spirit was willing, but the flesh so very weak…

You have the rest of your life to "walk the talk" Pappy comes but once a year.

You are right about the inexplicable desire for Pappy (aka expensive BT whiskey). You did very well by choosing the rye, that one is special.

I certainly won't go to the extreme of buying these on the gray market, but whether they were distilled at S-W or Bernheim or BT, there are pretty much no other sources at this point for >12 year old wheaters. The retail price isn't out of line compared to other premium releases (OK, the retail price of Lot B is pretty wack.)